Thompson was a five-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com and solidified his status in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

''The word I got from some of those kids was the guy just was very difficult to handle by anybody,'' Richt said.

Georgia added another five-star prospect Wednesday night when Callaway High wide receiver Terry Godwin announced he chose the Bulldogs over Auburn.

Linebacker Jake Ganus, a senior who transferred after Alabama-Birmingham dropped its program, already is enrolled. Ganus led UAB in tackles each of the last two seasons.

Ganus (6-2, 215) said he had interest from 40 schools.

''It was a crazy December for me,'' Ganus said, adding Georgia was ''a perfect fit'' because 2014 starters Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson were seniors.

The class was ranked sixth in the nation by Scout.com and seventh by Rivals.com.

At least 19 signees will play defense. The class includes five defensive linemen and four offensive linemen, including Sam Madden (6-6, 350) of Barnegat, New Jersey, DeVondre Seymour (6-6, 310) of Suwanee, Georgia and Patrick Allen (6-4, 285) of Reisterstown, Maryland. Seymour is the adopted son of former Georgia and NFL defensive tackle Richard Seymour.

''We got some beef, there's no doubt about that,'' Richt said during a question-and-answer session with fans.

Richt said later the day included ''a lot of emotions.''

Linebacker Roquan Smith of Montezuma, Georgia announced on ESPN he would sign with UCLA over the Bulldogs - but he then postponed the signing. Georgia lost wide receiver Darius Slayton of Greater Atlanta Christian to Auburn and safety Deontai Williams of Jacksonville, Florida to Ohio University.

Georgia signed Shaquery Wilson, a wide receiver from Coral Gables, Florida who last week changed his commitment from the Bulldogs to West Virginia.